Kunstnesten voor Zeearend Haliaeetus albicilla en Visarend Pandion haliaetus in de IJsselmonding en de Oostvaardersplassen

The settlement, and subsequent nest-building, of an Osprey pair in the Oostvaardersplassen in 2002, and the presence of two adult White-tailed Eagles along the river IJssel in winter 2001/2002 caused a stir in circles of birdwatchers and nature managers: to build or not to build artificial nests? Especially because the Osprey nest was largely destroyed during a storm in October 2002, and poor nesting opportunities prevail in the region (food is, however, abundant), it was decided to provide several artificial nests: two for White-tailed Eagles in the mouth of the river IJssel (4 December 2002, 28 January 2003) and two for Ospreys in the Oostvaardersplassen (28 February and 4 March 2003). In the latter cases, Salix sp. were chosen in close proximity of the former nest site, on top of which a platform with a diameter of c. 2 m was placed. A crude nest was constructed on the platform, using branches from the crashed Osprey nest. The artificial nest within 50 m of the former Osprey nesting site was occupied by two Ospreys in April and May 2003, and some nest-building took place through early May.